After learning about palliative care and cancer, you may be wondering if palliative care is really the right choice for you.
 
In truth, that question can only be answered after you speak with your primary care physician and the rest of your health care team. These professionals have been with you throughout your health care journey and are best equipped to explain the benefits and disadvantages of palliative care that are specific to you.
 
However, for a general understanding of palliative care and hospice in Las Vegas, this guide can serve as an introduction to the service.
 

Is Palliative Care The Right Fit?

Before you can decide if palliative care is the right fit for you, it is important to understand what the term truly means. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, palliative care is the “treatment of the discomfort, symptoms and stress of serious illness. It provides relief form distressing symptoms including pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and problems with sleep.”
 
With that definition in mind, there are certain qualities that make you the perfect candidate for palliative care. These qualities include any of the following:

• You have a cancer or serious illness that causes “distressing” symptoms;
• You have a shortened life expectancy;
• You have some other medical issue that complicates an already serious condition;
• You have been considering Las Vegas hospice or palliative care for some time.

Because your life expectancy is shortened, your primary concern may be how much more time palliative care will give you to spend with your loved ones. Unfortunately, there is no way to say for certain when you are dealing with a life threatening illness.
 
However, you can rest assured that your palliative care team will be focused wholeheartedly on the ultimate comfort of you and your loved ones. Your palliative care doctor will do his or her best to give you as accurate an estimation as possible. Your palliative care team will then proceed to give you the care necessary to manage your symptoms for as long as you need.
 

Ask The Right Questions About Las Vegas Hospice

If you think palliative care may be a good fit for you, there are questions you need to ask yourself as well as your doctor.
 
You want to be sure to discuss the specifics about the palliative care with your doctor. Ask if there are benefits that only palliative care can provide. Ask if there is anything you can lose by choosing palliative care.
 
Perhaps most importantly, you want to ask yourself if you are ready to face the risks of any aggressive curative therapy that may be suggested. Ask what it is you are expecting to achieve out of this style of treatment. Discuss these answers with your doctors to know if palliative care really is a good fit for you.
 
Have all your questions answered by scheduling a consultation with a friendly Las Vegas hospice and palliative care center, ProCare Hospice of Nevada. For more information about the best palliative care Las Vegas offers, contact 702.380.8300.